Stayman Convention The origin of this conventional method is somewhat clouded. The initial concept was employed in the early days of the game of bridge by Mr. Ewart Kempson, 1895-1966, of England and was further developed by Mr. Seca Jascha Skidelsky, or Mr. S. J. Simon, or better known just as Skid, born 1904, in Harbin, Manchuria, and died in 1948, to exchange additional information about the holding of partner following an opening of 1 No Trump. In the following years the concept was devised independently by Mr. John C. H. Marx, aka Jack, 1907-1991, of England and Mr. George Rapee, 1915-1999, of New York, United States, around 1945, who was the regular bridge partner and friend of Mr. Samuel M. Stayman, 1909-1993. However, this newly devised concept was actively further developed by Mr. Samuel M.

Stayman, who then first published and promoted this concept to and within the bridge community, and was henceforth known as the Stayman convention. Note: The first published article of Mr. Samuel M. Stayman appeared in The Bridge World issue of June 1945. This article appears in its full account in the following .pdf file format, which has only been preserved and archived on this site for future reference. History Summary It has been proposed that Mr. John C.H. Marx, of England was unable to publish his version of this conventional method until 1946 because all bridge publications were suspended due to a paper shortage in England at the time when the war demanded all resources. Source: Bridge's Strangest Hands written by Mr. Andrew Ward, page 217. Note: The Stayman convention was known for many years in the United Kingdom as Marx Two Clubs in the late 1940s and early 1950s since Mr. John C. H. Marx also developed the concept. However, this designation was eventually dropped in favor of the designation of Stayman, under which name it is now universally known.

For those players, who continue to refer to this conventional method as Marx Two Clubs, the colloquial designation of Marxists has been created. For those, who refer to the conventional method as Stayman, the colloquial designation of Stayman-ites has been created. Note: In his publication The No Trump Zone, authored by Mr. Danny Klein, published by Master Point Press in the year 2004 (ISBN-10: 1-894154-70-3), Mr. Danny Kleinman writes (excerpt): Long before there were transfer bids, England's Jack Marx invented a 2 Clubs inquiry response to 1NT. Several years later, America's George Rapee reinvented it. Rapee's regular partner, Sam Stayman, wrote a Bridge World article describing it. Luckily for bridge players in that era, the heyday of the House Un-American Activities Committee, the convention became known as Stayman; had it been named for its British originator, those of us who played in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s might have been dragged before HUAC to swear loyalty.

Non-Forcing Stayman Convention One form of the Stayman convention is known as the Non-Forcing Stayman Convention. Although this is somewhat of a misnomer, because the response of 2 Clubs to the No Trump Opening forces the 1 No Trump opener for one round. The non-forcing element of this version of the Stayman convention refers to the fact that if, after the No Trump opener responds to the 2 Club bid and the responder bids a new higher-ranking suit on the two level, the No Trump opener is not required to continue the bidding. The No Trump opener may pass as shown in the following example. Opener Forcing rebid. The opener may not pass below 2 No Trump. From the two illustrations above, the technical difference between Non-Forcing Stayman and Forcing Stayman should be clear. These two versions of the Stayman convention are still being played and if this is your partnership agreement, please adhere to this understanding. It must be noted, however, that the Jacoby Transfer has efficiently replaced any reasons for the responder to rebid a different suit on the two level, thereby rendering the use of the Non-Forcing or Forcing version of the Stayman convention unnecessary.

The Stayman Convention A typical hand is shown below, and with similar holdings, we shall attempt to illustrate the usefulness of the Stayman convention. The general range for the No Trump opening for this conventional method is considered to be between 15-17 points. However, the Stayman convention can be used for a strong No Trump range between 16-18 points and a weak No Trump range anywhere between 10-14 points and balanced distribution. Depending on the No Trump range the required values of the responder are fewer or increased. For this presentation we use the 15-17 point range for the No Trump opening. Opener Requirements for the Responder 1. At least one 4-card Major suit and at least 8 high card points for a No Trump range of 15-17 high card points. For other No Trump ranges the minimum requirement regarding values is adjusted accordingly. 1.1. Responder should not hold a 5-card Major. 1.2. Transfer bids and/or variations of the Stayman convention are preferable holding a 5-card plus Major suit and/or a 5-4 distribution in both Major suits. 2.

The 4-card Major suit should preferably have at least one of the top five honors. The reason behind this guideline is that the declarer has the possibility of finessing. A review the forced responses of the No Trump bidder: 1. If the No Trump bidder does not have a 4-card Major, the No Trump bidder automatically bids 2 Diamonds. This is the so-called Denial Bid. 2. If the No Trump bidder has a 4-card Major suit, then the No Trump bidder bids that Major suit. 3. ** If the No Trump bidder has 4 cards in both Majors, the No Trump bidder can bid either the Heart suit or the Spade suit first. The preference is to bid 'up the line', which means that the Heart suit is bid first. ** Please read the following for clarification for response number 3: Hearts First vs. Spades First ...... Convention vs. Contention ** This particular requirement / suggestion / guideline is one of contention among the expert bridge players even to this day. In the original version of the published article it was strongly recommended, if not specifically required, that the Spade suit should be bid first in the case that the No Trump bidder held both 4-card Major suits.

No reason is given or provided. Some speculation is that, at the time of the publication, the philosophy was predominant that whoever held the Spade suit would most likely win the auction, but this is only speculation. If any reader has access to other publications stating a reason(s), please be so kind as to contribute this information for the benefit of others. The reader should also, in regard to a possible answer to this question, read the publication by Mr. Easley Blackwood from his publication Blackwood On Bidding, in association with Mr. Stanley McComas, published 1956 by The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, and New York, New York, Chapter 17, pages 123 - 127, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 56-13044. Mr. Easley Blackwood promoted his New Improved Stayman Convention, and also adamantly required that the Spade suit be bid first if the No Trump bidder held both 4-card Major suits.

The exact quote is: "Even should the opening bidder have a biddable heart suit in addition to a biddable spade suit, he still responds 2 S(pades), bidding the higher-ranking suit." This original guideline may still be practiced via partnership agreement. The reader / visitor should be aware, however, that this published article was written in the mid-1940s and many revolutionary, if not evolutionary elements have been added to improve the nature of the bidding in the game of bridge. Bridge teachers and instructors of the modern bidding theory promote the philosophy that the lower-ranking Major suit should be bid first if both 4-card Major suits are held. Continuances of the Responder 1. Since the No Trump bidder has limited his hand to 15-17/18 high card points, the responder becomes the Captain of the partnership and must decide the correct contract. 2. If responder has 8-9 high card points, and he realizes that they have an 8-card fit in a Major, then the rebid of the responder is either 3 Spades or 3 Hearts. This is purely invitational and not forcing.

The No Trump bidder continues to game with the maximum high card points and passes with the minimum high card points. 3. If the responder finds no fit, then the responder bids 2 No Trump with 8/9 points to show no fit. 4. If the responder has 10-14 points (high card points plus distributional points) after finding an 8-card Major fit, then the responder bids game in that suit. 5. If the responder has 10-14 high card points, and he realizes there is no fit in either Major suit, the responder bids game in No Trump. 6. If the responder has 15 plus points, high card points plus distributional points after re-evaluating his hand, after finding an 8-card Major fit, then the responder should try for slam. 7. If the responder has 15 high card points plus, and discovers no fit, the responder should try for slam by asking the No Trump bidder for his number of Aces with the Blackwood convention, or the agreed partnership slam conventional methods, with the intention of playing the contract in No Trump.

A summary of the (more modern) rebids by the No Trump bidder after responder has initiated the Stayman convention: Opener Promises a 4-card Spade suit, and generally denies a 4-card Heart suit. Shows maximum values per partnership agreement. ** The student of the responses should keep in mind the original version, in which the No Trump bidder is required to bid the Spade suit first if holding both 4-card Major suits. The If's and the Then's There are many if's and then's (if this, then this ... but if not this, then that), but this should not confuse the bridge player. Since everything is dependent on length and strength of the holding of the responder, it requires only a little memorization and the use of the convention of logic to sort things out. If the partnership keeps the line of communication open, then the partnership will be able to visualize each holding and reach the correct and most optimum contract. Try to remember and use the following little trick when using the Stayman convention. Although the No Trump bidder has limited his holding and the responder becomes the Captain, who will guide him to the correct contract, the No Trump bidder can show strength in his response.

For example: Opener Shows either minimum or maximum values. 4 Sign off. To play. 4 Gerber convention asking for Aces or Keycards. 4 NT This is a quantitative rebid asking partner to bid 6 No Trump with maximum values or pass with minimum values. If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.

Gerber (4C Club) Slam Ace Asking: Bridge Bidding Convention Voids are not considered controls and should not be bid as Aces. 2. With a useful "working" void (not in partner's long suit), Gerber responder may bid: - 5C with an even number of Aces (5th step) - With an odd number of Aces, if the void suit is Diamonds or Hearts, and the trump suit is above the void suit, bid the void suit 3. Otherwise, bid trump at the 6 level (showing an unspecified void). Partner is left to deduce the void suit. Also see books on Slam and other slam conventions: 1430 , Baby Blackwood , Blackwood , Controls , Exclusion Blackwood/Voidwood , Gerber , Grand Slam Force , Jacoby 2 Notrump , Key Card Blackwood , Kickback , Last Train , NAMYATS , Pick a Slam , Quantitative Notrump Bid , Rolling Blackwood , Serious 3 Notrump , Slam Try - Stayman , Splinters , Opener Jump Shift , Strong Jump Shift , and legacy treatments as Roman Asking Bids , Roman Blackwood , Roman Gerber .

Slam treatments also include interference of an overcall by opponents, as Negative Slam Double , DOPI , DEPO , ROPI . The ACBL nominated John Gerber to the "Hall of Fame", offering the following testimonial: John Gerber won fame as a player, as a strong team captain and as the inventor of the ace-asking 4 bid that bears his name. A more important legacy to bridge may be found in the lives he influenced and continues to influence. ï¿½Chances are that I wouldn't be playing bridge today if it hadn't been for Gerber,ï¿½ says Sidney Lazard, considered one of the all-time greats of the game. Bobby Wolff, another legendary bridge figure, calls Gerber ï¿½a father figure.ï¿½ Gerber, Wolff says, ï¿½may have had the most influence on me when I first started to play.ï¿½ Gerber (1906ï¿½1981) was a strong captain of North American teams and a fine player in his own right. He won four NABC titles, was nine times a runner-up and won many regional events.

He represented North America in the Bermuda Bowl in 1961. In recognition of these achievements, Gerber has been elected to the ACBL Bridge Hall of Fame, the fourth Texan to be so honored (Wolff, Oswald Jacoby and Jim Jacoby are the others) Lazard recalls playing with Gerber early in his own career. ï¿½I had about five mentors and he was certainly one of the main ones. The two strengths of my game ï¿½ defense and tactics ï¿½ I learned from Gerber. ï¿½His offensive bidding might have left something to be desired, but he was a fine defensive player and fine tactical player.ï¿½ Gerber was one of the first to realize that if an opponent discarded a suit and there were four of that suit in dummy, the opponent likely had five or more. ï¿½And that was more than 30 years ago,ï¿½ adds Lazard, ï¿½long before anyone else even thought about it.ï¿½ Wolff recalls kibitzing Gerber. ï¿½He had a tremendous feel for the game.

I remember kibitzing once when the bidding went 1ï¿½Passï¿½2ï¿½Pass; Pass and he balanced with 3?. He was vulnerable and if the opponents had stopped to double him, he would have gone down a bunch. ï¿½Instead, they went to 3 and went down themselves. I asked him later why he had taken such a risk and his reply was: ï¿½Did you check to see what our matchpoint score would have been for minus 110'?ï¿½ Wolff says Gerber was ï¿½a dynamic matchpoint player. It seemed his score was always 200-plus with 156 average.ï¿½ Gerber was no slouch at board-a-match play either. His team (Mervin Key, Harold Rockaway and Paul Hodge) won the 1964 Reisinger, averaging 71% over four sessions.

His regular Texas Team ï¿½ Hodge, Ben Fain and George Heath ï¿½ was ï¿½a very fine team in the Fifties and early Sixties,ï¿½ recalls Dan Morse, a fellow Texan who now represents District 16 on the ACBL Board of Directors. He also remembers Gerber, an early riser, sitting in the hotel lobby at NABCs ï¿½willing to give advice. He was better at giving advice than taking it.ï¿½ Morse, who has enjoyed considerable success as a non-playing captain, notes that Gerber was npc of North American teams in Bermuda Bowl competition in 1962, 1963 and 1965. In New York in 1962, he split the partnerships of Bobby Nailï¿½Mervyn Key and Lew Matheï¿½Ron Von der Porten, putting Mathe and Nail together as partners in an unusual move that worked well and almost captured the title from Italy.

Gerber, says Morse, ï¿½believed in good card play rather than long-established partnerships.ï¿½ June 16, 2006 - EMAIL from Mervin Key to BridgeHands: Worked well you say? A little research would have told you that, at the time Gerber played God by splitting Nail-Key, they had played only one session, the first, against Italy. They played that session was against Garozzo-Forquet and, when it was over, NA led by a substantial number of victory points. Believe me - Iï¿½ve still got the hand records. [clip] I donï¿½t think that Dan meant to demean my card play by his add-on remark. In 1962, I was known as being able to play the cards on a par with anyone ï¿½ ask Al Roth ï¿½ ask Ledeen - ask Stucker ï¿½ ask Lazard ï¿½ ask Weed.

I wish that Nail, Rockaway, either Jacoby, Carter, Hubble, Schenken, Crawford, Rapee, Leventritt, Ogust, Stone, Sobel, Fain, Hodge, Heath and/or whomever Iï¿½m temporarily forgetting were still around to be asked. Iï¿½ll close by signing my name, but spelled correctly. Mervin Key The next year in St. Vincent, Italy, he again broke up a long established partnership, pairing Nail with Howard Schenken and benching Peter Leventritt and Jim Jacoby. This move was not successful and may have cost the Americans the championship. It followed a little known incident that occurred at the time Gerber arrived at the Grand Hotel Bilia. An anonymous letter written in Italian was delivered to him. He secured a translator, but after the first paragraph was read to him, he asked the translator to stop; to deliver the letter to Italy's captain, Carl' Alberto Perroux and to explain that Gerber had listened only to the first paragraph. The writer had accused the Blue Team of cheating.

Perroux, after reading the letter to his team, suggested that the match be played with screens running across the tables (this was 12 years before present-day screens were employed) - but Gerber would have none of it. The goodwill engendered by this exchange inspired Perroux and his team to present their championship trophies to Gerber and the American team in what was described as the greatest act of sportsmanship in bridge history. When Gerber's daring move to pair Schenken with Nail backfired, he faced a lot of flak, but the Board nevertheless appointed him captain of the next Bermuda Bowl team in 1965. That was the time when 2 members of his team brought cheating charges against a British partnership. Gerber spent 10 minutes in the grandstand watching the famous British pair who were accused of using finger signals to tell each other how many hearts were held. The 10 minutes were enough to convince him and he became one of the strongest witnesses against the pair when the World Bridge Federation suspended them. A very strong captain, Gerber was a great player in his own right.

He represented North America in the Bermuda Bowl in Buenos Aires 1961 and won the Chicago (now the Reisinger) 1964, Master Mixed Teams 1964, Men's Pairs 1959, Men's Teams 1953 and placed 2nd in the Spingold 1954, 67; Chicago 1957, 59; Men's Pairs 1957, Master Mixed Teams 1967, Mixed Pairs 1953, 68; Life Master Men's Pairs 1974. (See BUENOS AIRES AFFAIR) Stayman: Bridge Bidding Convention 2H - 3C; Bid 3C to show a slam invitational hand in the respective minor.

Note: some players (that do not play Jacoby Transfers to the minors) prefer to play 3C/3D as a weak signoff bid with a long minor suit; further, some players play this as showing game invitational values 1N - 2C; 2H - 3H; Bid 3H to show a 4+ card Heart fit and an invitational hand (8-9 points by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener) 1N - 2C; 2H - 3S; Bid 3S with a game forcing hand and a 5 card Spade suit (10-14 points by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener); Note - an advanced treatment uses this as a slam try in Spades (remember the acronym "ST TOMAS" Stayman Then The Other Major Asks Slam") 1N - 2C; 2H - 3N; Bid 3N with a game forcing hand and no 4 card Heart suit (10-14 points by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener) 1N - 2C; 2H - 4C;

 Bid Blackwood asking 4C with a slam invitational hand and 4+ card Heart suit (16+ points by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener); Note - an advanced treatment uses this as a Splinter bid in Clubs/Diamonds 1N - 2C; 2H - 4H; Bid 4H with a game forcing hand and a 4+ card Heart suit (10-14 points by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener) 1N - 2C; 2H - 4N; Bid Quantitative Slam asking 4N with a slam invitational hand and no 4 card Heart suit (15-16 points by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener) Case C.

After 1N - 2C; 2S by opener promises a 4+ card Spade suit: 1N - 2C; 2S - 3C; Bid 3C to show a slam invitational hand in the respective minor.

Note: some players (that do not play Jacoby Transfers to the minors) prefer to play 3C/3D as a weak signoff bid with a long minor suit; further, some players play this as showing game invitational values 1N - 2C; 2S - 3H; Bid 3H to show a 5+ card Heart suit and a game forcing hand (10-14 points by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener); Note - an advanced treatment uses this as a slam try in Spades (remember the acronym "ST TOMAS" Stayman Then The Other Major Asks Slam") 1N - 2C; 2S - 3S; Bid 3S to show a 4+ card Spade fit and an invitational hand (8-9 points by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener) 1N - 2C; 2S - 3N; Bid 3N with a game forcing hand and no 4 card Spade suit (10-14 points by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener) 1N - 2C; 2S - 

4C; Bid Blackwood asking 4C with a slam invitational hand and 4+ card Spade suit (16+ points by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener); Note - an advanced treatment uses this as a Splinter bid in Clubs/Diamonds 1N - 2C; 2S - 4N; Bid Quantitative Slam asking 4N with a slam invitational hand and no 4 card Spade suit (15-16 points by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener) If opponent interferes: i.

Also see Books on Stayman The ACBL nominated Sam (Samuel) Stayman to the "Hall of Fame", providing the following testimonial: Sam Stayman was a leading bridge administrator, an innovator, an author and a successful business man. Stayman's name became a household word in bridge circles when he described ( The Bridge World , June 1945) a convention developed by his partner George Repï¿½e. In response to a 1NT opening bid, 2? asks for a major suit. This became known as the Stayman Convention ï¿½ familiar to bridge players throughout the world. He contributed to the Official Encyclopedia of Bridge and wrote three books: Expert Bidding, The Complete Stayman System of Contract Bridge and Do you Play Stayman? His contributions to bridge theory include Namyats (Stayman spelled backwards) which used an opening 4? bid to show a strong hand with a long hearts suit and 4? to show a strong hand with a long spade suit.

Stayman (1909-1993) won his first major NABC titles in 1942 when he took both the Vanderbilt and the Spingold, and his last (the Reisinger) more than four decades later in 1984. In all he captured 20 North American championships and was runner-up 14 times. A World Bridge Federation Brand Maste, he and George Repï¿½e, Charles Goren, Howard Schenken, John Crawford and Sidney Silodor won the inaugural Bermuda Bowl in 1950. The January-February 1951 Bulletin reported. All the close of the eighth and final session of the grueling battle of brains the American led England by 3660 points and were ahead of the Europeans by 4720 points. Dr. Einar Werner, captain of the European team, said: ï¿½The American made few mistakes and had the advantage of a team composed of six good players, familiar with each other's play.ï¿½ The following year, Stayman and Crawford, Schenken, Repï¿½e and B. Jay Becker represented America in the World Team Championship in Rome .

They defeated Italy , winner of a European round-robin tournament, in a 320 board match played over a period of one week. Julius Rosenblum, 1951 ACBL president and non-playing captain of the team, reported in the January-February 1952 Bulletin . It gives me great happiness to say that the members of the American team distinguished themselves by their courtesy as well as by their bridge skill. It was a friendly, enjoyable match, and it will build for future international goodwill in bridge The same team ï¿½ with Theodore Lightner as a sixth member ï¿½ defended their title successfully in 1953. In all, Stayman represented the ACBL six times in international competition. He won the silver in the 1964 World Team Olympiad. As a bridge administrator, Stayman served several years as ACBL Treasurer and was trustee of the ACBL Charity Foundation. He was named ACBL Honorary Member in 1969 and American Bridge Teachers' Association Honorary Member in 1979. He was president of the Cavendish Club in Manhattan from 1958 to 1972.

Born in Worcester MA in 1909, he took his A.B. degree from Dartmouth College in 1930 and his M.B.A. from Tuck Business College in 1931. He was president of Stayman & Stayman until the mid-Sixties when he sold the business and became a portfolio and investments manager. His wife Josephine, known as ï¿½Tubbyï¿½, is a tireless worker for her favorite charity, bridge games which contribute to the United Jewish Appeal. Bridge - The Acol Bidding System - Conventions Plant Database Introduction Conventions are a part of the auction, that are extensions of the standard bidding system. They are referred to as "conventions" because unlike with pure biddding, the actual value bid does not indicate the contract that the partnership really desires, but has a special meaning. Some of the conventions are so common, that they are really regarded as a part of standard acol. There are so many different conventions around we have decided only to document the ones that have been implemented in WolfBridge and are some of the most common ones. Most of the conventions are useful for strong hands when there is a chance of a slam contract.

Much of the auction, including the conventions, has been based on "All About Acol" by Ben Cohen and Rhoda Lederer, which is an excellent book, highly recommended for any beginners to intermediate bridge players. Trial Bids Trial bids are used when you open one of a major suit, that is immediately raised to two of that suit by your partner, showing 6-9 points and a match for your suit. If you were to raise to the three level and partner had originally raised on a maximum, then they will bid four of the major no problem, however if they were bidding on less than the maximum number of points, they are likely to then no-bid, even though if they hold 7-8 points and with a good fit in other suits, you are likely to be able to make game. This is where a trial bid comes to the rescue.

After the 1M,2M bidding sequence, if you intend to raise to 3M, hoping that your partner can find the extra strength to put you into 4M and you need help in one of the minor suits (a holding of a few rags in one of the minors), then you can bid 3 of that minor, asking your partner for help in that suit. Your partners responses are then: With minimum hand for raise, convert to 3M With maximum hand for raise, convert to 4M With "help" in trial bid suit convert to 4M else 3M If trial bid was in clubs but have help in diamonds, we can declare this by bidding 3 diamonds, leaving partner to decide what to do "Help" in the trial bid suit is generally to control the suit after no more than two losers. A void, singleton or doubleton plus a four card trump suit is good, or an A or Kx or Qxx are also great help. Blackwood Blackwood is a means of determing how many aces and kings your partnership holds, once the trump suit has been established.

It is only good if you need to know how many aces or kings your partner holds and are not so concerned about exactly which ones they are, in which case you are better off using "Cue Bidding" (described later). Since Blackwood is dependent upon a suit contract being established, it is not possible to use this when bidding No Trumps. The "Gerber" convention is a similar sort of device for asking for aces when bidding No Trumps. The convention is, that once a suit contract has been established, if either of the partners then bids four No Trumps, this is then asking for a count of aces. The responses to this bid are then as follows: 5C = None or four aces 5D = One ace 5H = Two aces 5S = Three aces You might ask how you can work out what 5C means, but in reality, you are very unlikely to have got as far as thinking you have enough points to make a slam if your partnership holds none of the aces, so if you hold none and your partner bids 5C, it's likely that they hold all four.

If you decide that given your holding of aces you're still likely to make a slam, but you still need to know about your partners holding of kings, then then the next bid is the conventional "five No Trump", asking for kings. The responses to this are as follows: 6C = None 6NT = Four kings Gerber An immediate response of 4C to partners opening 1NT trump is the "Gerber" convention, asking partner to give a count of aces. The standard respones to 4C are: 4D = None or four aces 4H = One ace 4S = Two aces 4NT = Three aces A subsequent bid of 5C by the original bidder is then asking for kings and any other bid is a sign off that should be left undisturbed by the opening 1NT bidder. The standard respones to 5C are: 5D = None or four kings 5H = One king 5NT = Three kings Stayman After a 1NT opener a response of 2C is the "Stayman" convention, asking partner to show a four card major suit if he has one.

Openers rebid is then: Holding one four card major, bid 2 of that major Holding both four majors, bid 2H Holding neither major, bid 2D The responders rebid is then as follows: Partner bid a major I like. Pass or raise that suit Partners response was not what I wanted. Convert to 2 or 3NT, make a weak take-out bid, or jump-bid own strong suit Partner gave a negative 2D, but I'm determined to play in a major if possible. Bid 3D is asking for a 3 card major. Bidding 3C indicates that the 2C was not intended as Stayman but a real club bid Baron After a 2NT opener a response of 3C is the "Baron" convention, asking partner to show a four suit if he has one. It can also be used after a 2C opener followed by 2D response and a 2NT rebid.

The respones to the Baron 3C are: 3NT if he only hold a four card club suit With one four card suit, bid that suit With two four card suits, bid the lower ranking one unless it's clubs Swiss A bid of 4C or 4D after an opening of 1H or 1S is the "Swiss" convention. It is used when the hand is strong enough for a direct jump to game of the major, holds two or three aces but is insufficiently strong to make a forcing bid. The bids have the following meanings: 4C shows two aces, four card trump support and 13-15 points 4D shows three aces, four card trump support and 13-15 points This is a useful bid, because given the holding of so many aces, it is otherwise unlikely that partner would consider a slam without this bid that tells them how many aces we hold at the same time as promising support of their suit. Cue Bidding Cue bidding is used once a trump suit has been established and there is interest in a possible slam contract, but the partnership needs to exchange information about first and second round controls.

Unlike blackwood, cue bidding indicates the suit in which a control is held. It is therefore of greatest use when for example a blackwood response of "one Ace" would not be enough because you need to know which ace. Say for example you hold KQx in one suit and xxx in another suit (outside of your trump suit). If partner holds the A in your suit with KQx, you could still be wide open to attack in the suit with xxx and the contract could go down inside the first couple of tricks, however if your partner holds the ace in the suit with xxx, then you still have a chance for a small slam. Once the trump suit has been established, a bid of another suit is a cue bid, showing first round control in that suit and suggests that you're inerested in a slam. The responder can then cue bid their own first round controls in order. Missing out a suit indicates that no first round control is held in that suit. Note that if the responder had responded with a minimal holding, then they should avoid cue bidding if it takes the contract beyond game. Grand Slam Force Described here is actually the modified Grand Slam Force.

The "Grand Slam Force" is a way of asking partner how many of the top three trumps they hold. It is bid by jumping straight to five No Trump without having bid a Blackwood four No Trump. The responses are as follows: With 2 or 3 of the top three trumps bid 7 of the agreed suit With 1 of the top three trumps bid 6 of the agreed suit With 0 of the top three trumps bid 6C The convention "Josephine" in WolfBridge, is basically the Grand Slam Force after Blackwood. If instead of the Blackwood bidder reverting to five No Trump to ask for aces, or backing off into a suit at the five level, if they bid six clubs, then they are asking for the top trumps as above.

Question: In what card game would you see Stamen, Blackwood and Gerber?
Answer: Bridge